Electric fence extender

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a stand-off device which may be coupled to an already existing fence with out requiring tools for installation or removal for purposes of running an electrically charged wire at a spaced point inside the fence perimeter to keep livestock from approaching and laying against the fence to break it down. The extender is a substantially Y shaped member having fence attaching eyes at the free ends of the arms and an insulator at the free end of the elongated leg member of the Y-shape.

Write States Patent 1191 Heuberger 1 ELECTRIC FENCE EXTENDER [76] Inventor: Clarence A. Heuberger, Sheffield,

Iowa

221 I Filed: Apr. 25, 1972 21 Appl.No.: 247,309

[52] US. Cl 256/10, 174/158 F [51] Km. Cl E0411 17/06 [58] Field of Search 256/10, 32, 33, 3,

256/11; 174/158 R, 158 F, 160,161 F, 163 F [56] References Cited 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS Sept. 13, 1973 2,294,235 8/1942 Ives 174/158 F UX 2,677,529 5/1954 Eide et al. 2,856,159 10/1958 Braddock .Q 256/10 X Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Wilkinson, Mawhinney and Theibault [57] ABSTRACT The present disclosure is directed to a stand-off device which may be coupled to an already existing fence with out requiring tools for installation or removal for purposes of running an electrically charged wire -at a spaced point inside the fence perimeter to keep livestock from approaching and laying against the fence to break it down. The extender is a substantially Y shaped member-having fence attaching eyes at the freeends of the arms and an insulator at the free end of theelom gated leg member of the Y-shape.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIiminssrwlsza sum 1 [1F 2 v FIG. is a perspective view ELECTRIC FENCE EXTENDEIR An object of the present invention is to provide a fence extender which may be quickly attached to an already existing fence without the necessity of employing hand tools and which extender when once applied t the fence cannot be dislodged by livestock.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a fence extender which may be installed at any height on an existing fence and may be used on any type any ordinary type of wire fencing and which is reusable when it is desired to relocate the electrified wire.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of'a Y-shaped member having the two arm por-.

tions extending off one end of the elongated leg member and the free ends of the arm portions being bent back upon themselves to define attaching eyes which can be readily passed over the strand of wire of the existing fence and which will permit the device to have a lateral or transversed stability which resists dislodgment by the fortuitous banging of animals against the fence which whenelectrified would only occur intermittently andbe of extremely short duration.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a fence extender which may be hung upon the fence itself and does not require attachment to a post.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

reference characters throughout the several views:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the electric fence extender constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in straight solid line and in bent chain line.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fence extender of FIG. 1 shown applied to a fence structure wherein the upper or crotch portion of theY is directed to each side of the fence post.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fence structure showing the fence extender of FIG. I wherein the leg member has been bent to have furthercontact along the post line for regulating the spacing of the electrical wire within the fence closure.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the fence extender at an intermediate run of fence without requiring post support. of the fence extender of FIG. 1 shown attached to a wooden fence structure.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 designates generally the fence extender having spaced apart arms 11 and I2 and an'elongated leg 13, the free end of which supports an electrical insulator M to which is secured an electric wire 15 to provide shocking results to livestock coming into contact therewith. The extender 10 is generally of'a Y construction in which the arms- 11 and 12 define a semicircular construction which lends well to use with a post as shown in FIG. 2. However, if the arms 11 and 12 were of a V-shape the construction would still be within the scope of this invention. The free ends of the arms 11 and 12 are bent back upon themselves to form attaching loops 16 and 17. The free ends of the loops l6 and i7may be directed inwardly or outwardly of the V-like upper structure of the Y but space W is left so that the wire 19 to which the extender is attached may be passed when applying the extender to an existing fence structure.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the elongated leg 13 is shown bent to assure an electrical wire 15 that is parallel to and at a fixed elevation relative to the fence 19. Both arms ill and 12 are attached to the same horizontal support wire 19.

The extender 10 is applied to the support wire 19 by passing one of the arms 11 or 12 with the space 18 of the loops 16 or 117 over the wire 19, and then swinging the other arm up in place so that the wire 19 can be directed through the space 18 of the other loop so that the extender will assume the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

When working with a board fence, as shown in FIG. 5, the amrs 11 and 12 are secured to the board 20 by staples 2i driven into the wood and which straddle and confine the arms Ill and 12 to the board.

The extender 10 may be of steel or rubber or plastic covered steel to withstand its exposure to the elements and it is of a thickness to permit bending without breaking and flexing for attachment to the wire supporting it so that if desired'it may be readily removed. for reuse elsewhere. The installation or removal as shown in FIGSLZ, 3and 4 doesnot require tools.

, of each arm being looped back upon itself and laterally spacedto define an open sided attaching eye so that the eye may be passed over the horizontal strand of wire to couple the extender and wire in secure engagement to resist disconnection by livestock, and an electrical insulator on the free end of said elongated spacer member.

2. An electric fence exten'deras claimed in claim I wherein the arms of the Y-shape define a semicircle.

3. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the looped back portions of the arms are outside the area defined by the arms.

4. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the looped back portions of the arms are inside the area defined by the arms. I

5. An electric fence extender as claimed inclaim l wherein both arms are secured to the same horizontal strand of wire. I I

6. For use with a previously erected fence having spaced apart posts to maintain it erect and having at least one horizontal strand of wire; an electric fence extender comprising an elongated spacer member, a pair of arms extending off one end of said spacer member to define therewith a Y-shaped member, the free end of each arm being looped back'upon itself and laterally spaced to define an open sided attaching eye so that the eye may be passed over the horizontal strand of wire to lator on the free end of said elongated spacer member. t i t i a 

1. For use with a previously erected fence having at least one horizontal strand of wire; an electric fence extender comprising an elongated spacer member, a pair of arms extending off one end of said spacer member to define therewith a Y-shaped member, the free end of each arm being looped back upon itself and laterally spaced to define an open sided attaching eye so that the eye may be passed over the horizontal strand of wire to couple the extender and wire in secure engagement to resist disconnection by livestock, and an electrical insulator on the free end of said elongated spacer member.
 2. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arms of the Y-shape define a semicircle.
 3. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the looped back portions of the arms are outside the area defined by the arms.
 4. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the looped back portions of the arms are inside the area defined by the arms.
 5. An electric fence extender as claimed in claim 1 wherein both arms are secured to the same horizontal strand of wire.
 6. For use with a previously erected fence having spaced apart posts to maintain it erect and having at least one horizontal strand of wire; an electric fence extender comprising an elongated spacer member, a pair of arms extending off one end of said spacer member to define therewith a Y-shaped member, the free end of each arm being looped back upon itself and laterally spaced to define an open sided attaching eye so that the eye may be passed over the horizontal strand of wire to couple the extender and wire in secure engagement with the arms passing about each side of the post to support the extender at a downwardly declined angle to resist disconnection by livestock, and an electrical insulator on the free end of said elongated spacer member. 